A proibição da utilização regular de agentes antimicrobianos na produção animal entra em vigor em 28 de janeiro de 2022. Contudo, os Estados-Membros e o setor da pecuária estão muito longe de poder respeitar as novas regras. 

O artigo 107.º, n.º 3, do Regulamento (UE) 2019/6 relativo aos medicamentos veterinários, proíbe a utilização profilática de agentes antimicrobianos em grupos de animais de criação; os agentes antimicrobianos só podem ser administrados em casos excecionais e apenas a um determinado animal. Assim, previne-se a prática comum de adicionar regularmente agentes antimicrobianos aos alimentos ou à água dados a grupos de animais. O regulamento proíbe igualmente a utilização metafilática rotineira de agentes antimicrobianos.

A estratégia «do prado ao prato» tem por objetivo reduzir as vendas de agentes antimicrobianos em 50 % até 2030. Tal é insuficiente, uma vez que a proibição da utilização regular entra em vigor em 2022.

Que medidas prevê a Comissão tomar para garantir que o setor da pecuária e os Estados-Membros estejam preparados para respeitar a proibição a partir de 28 de janeiro de 2022?

Resposta da CE

As the Honourable Member underlines, the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed provide for a wide range of measures to fight antimicrobial resistance and promote a responsible use of antimicrobials. They were published in the Official Journal in January 2019 and will apply in January 2022[1] [2]. Member States and the EU livestock sector will thus have had three years to prepare themselves. The Commission would like to recall that Member States are responsible for ensuring an efficient implementation of the EU rules and taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance. The Commission itself is supporting Member States in their efforts to be ready for the implementation of the Regulations through its regular contacts on the topic with Member States and with stakeholders in the livestock sector and the veterinary sector. In addition, information is available on these new measures on the relevant Commission webpage, in formats that can be used for communication purposes[3] [4].

The Farm to Fork Strategy sets an ambitious – yet realistic – target for reducing by 50% overall EU sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture by 2030. It was set based on the evolution of sales of veterinary antimicrobials over the past ten years, as monitored under the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption project[5], and on the expected impact of the measures under the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed. Those measures will be instrumental in the achievement of this objective. Interventions designed to help reach this EU target, as proposed by Member States in their National Strategic Plans in the context of the future Common Agricultural Policy, should also be of support.